The Acolyte 1 and 2 episode review

 Amandla Stenberg and Leslye Headland, the star and creator of 'Star Wars: The Acolyte', respectively, thought the surprise twist in the first episode would leak before the series premiere. 

The show's marketing campaign withheld the reveal of Stenberg's dual role as Mae and Osha, a move that Stenberg and Headland found surprising.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Stenberg expressed her shock that the twist remained a secret until the premiere, while Headland hinted that the deception may not be over yet. The show's trailer, which debuted in March, featured a line from Lee Jung-jae's Master Sol that has taken on a new meaning after the reveal: "Close your eyes. Your eyes can deceive you. We must not trust them."

Stenberg plays both Mae, a vengeful assassin, and Osha, a space mechanic and Mae's twin sister, who were separated 16 years earlier. Headland credits Stenberg's performance in 'The Hate U Give' for her decision to cast her in the dual role, saying she was her first choice to embody the characters and understand the responsibility of leading a Star Wars project.

Stenberg and Headland also discussed working with Carrie-Anne Moss, who plays Jedi Master Indara, and the challenge of slowing down Stenberg's natural speed in action choreography. Stenberg learned to trust her movement and relax into her body, calling it a "spiritual lesson" in approaching her work.

The reveal of Osha has added a new layer to the show's mystery-thriller narrative, and fans are eagerly awaiting the rest of the season to see how the story unfolds. With Headland's hint that the deception may not be over yet, viewers can expect more twists and turns in the episodes to come.